Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-11-15
THE WOMEN OF INDIA.

The Ramabai Circle of New Haven
IT'S Origin and Its Objects-A Chief
Factor 1n Christian Civilization.
The Ramabai circle of New Haven have
lust issued the following:
The Pundita Ramabai is not unknown in
New Haven She addressed large audience
in the Church of the Redeemer at the annual
meeting of the Woman's Board of Missions
in January, 1887; and last month she again
visited this city with the hope of arousing an
interest in the work to which she has devoted
her ife-the elevation of the women of In
die. She and her friends appeal to the great
idea of the brotherhood of marshall we call
it in this case the sisterhood of women?-
which has been chief factor in Christian
civilization, and which plays 80 prominent
part in the political and social developments
of the present day.
Professor Max Muller has made the state
ment that ''the regeneration of India depends
upon the regeneration of the women OF
India" It is well known that the lot of
these women is hard; they are uneducated,
degraded and neglected; but the depth OF the
misery of these, our sisters, especially IN the
high castes, can only have been appreciated
by those who have lived among them. Their
religion, the laws of their country, the Gus
toms and prejudices of their race unite IN
condemning them to a life OF suffering lg-
norance idleness and ignominy.
A serious obstacle to the education OF
Hindu women exists in the law which forbids
either wife or child to leave her home. One
class can, however, be reached, and that Is
the class whose suffsrings exceed those of any
other-the widows. These are very numer-
GUS, for not only is polygamy practised, but
the Hindu girl is legally married in childhood
often in infancy-Rnd the death of her hus-
band, even if it takes place before she Is old
enough to live with him as his wife, makes
her widow for life, subject to the greatest
indignities and hsrdships. A widow who Is
twenty years of age is permitted to leave her
home, but she is penniless and has no means
of earning living. It is by means OF these
unhappy women that Ramabai hopes to in
aupurate movement which ii successful
may help to elevate her race to their fitting
position among the nations of the world.
Ramabai is possessed of remarkable talent
and unlike almost every other Hindu woman,
she was highly educated by her father. Four
years ago on the death of her husband she
visited England and came to this country In
1885, She is now about to return to INDIA,
where she hopes to open school for the cd
ucation of widows, who shall in their turn
become teachers and help the millions OF
women who can be reached only by those
of their own sex and race. She 10
Christian, but she does not intend that her
work shall be identified with any religious
denomination. In order to give her plans
fair trial she wants to be assured OF support
in her enterprise to the extent of five thou
sand dollars a year for period of ten years,
and with this object in view "Rama5ai cir
cles' have been formed in several localities.
Each member signs the following pledge:
81 the undersigned, hereby pledge myself to pay
annually for the space Of ten years. the sum here
for the elevation Of the women of India, of which
circle by virtue Of said payment l become mem nt
ber and the said payment shall be due on the first
day OF December in each year"
Rev. Phillips Brooks, Rev. Lyman Abbott,
Rev. E. Everett Hale, all of Boston, Mr.. Pea
body of New York, and other well known
gentlemen have consented to act as trustees
of the Ramabai fund in this country.
A circle was formed in New Haven last
month and has membership of fifty-three
persons, who appointed the following officers
President, Mrs. L. B. Merris, $50 Prospect
| street; secretary, Mrs. F. R. Honey, IA Lin
ooln street; treasurer, Mrs. T. P. Gibbons, "a
Trumbull street, who constitute the execu-
| tive committee.
It is earnestly hoped that there are many
persons in New Haven who will see the i'm
portance and true charity of this work, and
| who will manifest their interest in it by
| joining the Ramabai circle. Informal meet
| ings will be held occasionally, at which the
i progress of the work will be reported and
| the condition of the women of India will be
considered. A valuable paper on this sub
| iect was contributed to the Nineteenth Cen
fury magazine, September, 1866, by Hindu
| writer Ramabat has published book emit
tied ''The High Caste Hindu Women,
which will arouse the interest Of
all who sympathize with this down
trodden class. Few who read it will lay il
down without feeling earnest desire to give
| to their sisters of the East share of thos
advantages-mental, moral and physical
which are here freely enjoyed and withou
l which life is hardly worth living.
| Copies of Ramabai's book may be obtained
from the secretary, price $1.25; or they ma.
be borrowed for three days on payment OF Ii
cents.
Following are the members of the Rama
bal circle of New Haven:
Ten year subscriptions paid in full: Mrs
Henry Farnam 800, Mrs. W. w. Boardman
Mrs Robert Brown, Mrs. ]. NJ Davies, Mrs
| G. E. Day, Miss Darrell, Mrs. Everit, Mrs. j
Edwards, Mrs. G. B. Farnam, Mrs. j. N. A
Griswold, Mrs. S. Harris, Mrs. Hadley, Mis-
Pritchard, Mrs: h. Trowbridge, each $40; K
F. W., 500; Mrs. Wayland, Mrs. 0. f. Win
| chester, Mrs. G. P. Wurtz. Mrs. Thoma
| Wells, each $40.
| Subscriptions payable annually for tel
years: Miss Bristol 81, the Misses Bradle.
So, Miss Collins, Miss E. Collins, Miss Dav
export, each 81; Mrs. j. D. Dana 50; Miss S
E. Daggett 81, Mrs. D. E. Eaton So, Mrs. NJ
g. Elliott 81, Professor Il: Farnam SO
Mrs. J. w. French, Mrs. A. s. Fisher, Mrs
Gridley, each 81; Mrs T. P. Gibbons s.
Mrs. F. R. Honey, Mrs. Thomas Hooker
Miss Lawrence, Miss F. B. Mix, each 81
Mrs. L. B. Morris So; Miss M. D. Porter
Mrs Newman Smyth, Miss M. Shipman
each 81; the Misses Twining So; Mrs. Georg
Watrous, Mrs. j. F. Weir, Miss Winchester
Mrs. A. w. Wright, Mrs. E. A. Walker
each 81; Mrs Eli Whitney $40.
Donations-Miss S. E. Daggett, Miss Win
chester, each 81. Ten cent donations, 81.